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Tag: smoke ban

  • Workers File Lawsuit to Overturn Atlantic City Casino Smoking Exemption

    Workers File Lawsuit to Overturn Atlantic City Casino Smoking Exemption

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    After years of unsuccessful attempts to persuade lawmakers to ban smoking in Atlantic City casinos, workers have taken a new approach: filing a lawsuit to challenge a law that exempts casinos from indoor smoking bans. The lawsuit argues that the exemption for casinos violates the principle of equal protection under the law and seeks to have it acknowledged as unconstitutional.

    The United Auto Workers (UAW), representing workers at Bally’s, Caesars, and Tropicana casinos, joined by a group of casino workers opposed to smoking in gambling halls, filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court challenging New Jersey’s indoor clean air law. This law, enacted 18 years ago, prohibits smoking in most indoor workplaces but makes an exception for casinos.

    At a rally outside the courthouse where the lawsuit was filed, UAW president Shawn Fain noted that such drastic action was only necessary because of the industry’s unwillingness to address the concerns of Atlantic City casino workers regarding their work safety as they must regularly contend with the proven dangers of second-hand smoking.

    This legislation was supposed to protect everyone from the dangers of second-hand smoke. But somehow, our casino workers have been asked to roll the dice.

    Shawn Fain, UAW president

    The issue of smoking in casinos has sparked controversy not only in Atlantic City but also in other states where workers have raised concerns about second-hand smoke. Similar campaigns are underway in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Virginia. Proponents of the ban argue that banning smoking would not affect revenues but would tremendously improve casino staff’s quality of life.

    Casinos Remain Opposed to a Smoking Ban

    Recent revenue reports showing a decline in in-person visits to Atlantic City casinos have raised further alarm among workers and union leaders. They argue that a smoking ban is necessary to protect the health of workers and patrons alike and would constitute a vital step towards resolving the challenges facing the resort city.

    State Senator John Burzichelli introduced a bill earlier this year that would address some of the concerns of workers and the casino industry. However, the proposed legislation heavily favored casinos, causing workers pushing for a complete ban to reject this proposal, insisting on improved measures to protect their health and safety.

    The Casino Association of New Jersey opposes a smoking ban, citing concerns about its impact on competitiveness with neighboring states. However, workers are determined to push for change through legal action. The plight for safer working conditions has resonated across New Jersey, winning public support. While the lawsuit’s chances remain unclear, the UAW will explore every option to protect the casino worker community.

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    Deyan Dimitrov

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  • AC Casino Workers Discussed Smoking Ban in Senator Polistina’s Office

    AC Casino Workers Discussed Smoking Ban in Senator Polistina’s Office

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    Atlantic City casino workers continue their fight for a smoke-free work environment. Their last battlefield was, unexpectedly, a senator’s office.

    Representatives of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) and United Casino Workers (UAW) were staging a protest against Senator Vince Polistina’s recent change of heart. Polistina, who previously supported the smoke-free movements, recently agreed to allow casinos to seek compromise solutions.

    As the temperatures outside plummeted, the activists were invited to discuss the matter inside.

    CEASE Says Workers Will Be Forced to “Volunteer”

    Under New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act, casinos can dedicate up to a quarter of their indoor gaming space as a smoking area. Opponents of this exemption say that it jeopardizes the health of casino workers who have to bear the smoke for hours at a time. However, casino operators believe that a ban would hurt their business.

    While proponents of the ban have pointed out that casinos in other states have banned smoking with little to no effect on their business, AC operators remain adamant that they do not want smoking to go.

    As a result, some have proposed compromise measures, such as enclosed smoking spaces. Under this solution, only volunteering workers would be dealing in these spaces. However, CEASE argues that operators would simply force workers to volunteer.

    According to CEASE, casinos have previously put a pregnant woman and a person battling cancer at smoking tables.

    Polistina Would Still Vote in Favor of Banning Smoking

    Polistina told the activists that he agreed with them and that New Jersey should move on from indoor smoking. However, he had to change his stance because of politics, noting that the South Jersey Democratic delegation lost seats recently, making the fight for a smoking ban an uphill battle.

    In addition, Polistina pointed out that Unite Here Local 54, another union representing casino staff, opposes the ban as it also believes that it would cause patrons to go elsewhere. Local 54 represents hospitality sector workers and has many more members than UAW, giving it a lot of leverage when it comes to such matters.

    Despite that, Senator Polistina promised to vote in favor of a casino smoking ban if such a measure comes up for a vote in the Senate.

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    Fiona Simmons

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